do i have to loosen the wheels on my skateboard to make it go faster?

Question

*skateboarders only*

Answer 1

That will only help you a little, not enough to see improvement. All you have to do is get better and faster bearings. Element, Black Panther, stuff like that.

Answer 2

Get better bearings. ABEC is the qualification of the bearing and the higher the number, the better quality of the bearing and the race. You gotta have sealed bearings... and no you dont "lube" your bearings! They are in grease not in oil. Use oil on them and it'll be all over your wheels in no time. I've been told that you dont need higher than ABEC 5 because you wont go faster, dont weigh enuff to need higher quality bearings, and those are sealed.You can get ABEC 8. As far as loosening... never. there is a sleeve that the axle of the truck fits thru. The nut contacts that and not the surface of the bearing, so if you loosen the nut all youre going to do is make the wheel loose.

Answer 3

The axle nut does not (or should not) contact the wheel, only the bearing. If it does, you need to get a smaller nut or insert a washer.
Loosening the nut won't necessarily increase speed and can damage the threads or the bearings themselves.
You can lubricate your bearings if they are not completely sealed with some powdered graphite or replace the wheels and bearings.

Answer 4

loosen the wheels only if you are in the habit of planting your face on the pavement due to the wheels coming off the trucks and you being flung off the board

I'd get a difrerent set of wheels with lower friction bearings instead of messing around with the wheel nuts

Answer 5

nope, somebody mentioned washers, you need them, and try some bearing spacers too, clean and grease your bearings if you can, if not buy some new ones that are able to be opened and cleaned.

Answer 6

no you dont you just have to either get new bearings or trucks

Answer 7

because it will reduce friction